Key Points:Good posture with the knees over the toes and shoulders no farther than the knees. Use all of the edges both forward and backward. Skating is a sideways motion with a quick recovery. The four videos focus on exercise for balance, edges, proper stride, turning, stopping, starting.

Skating is and always will be the most important foundational skill. I remember coaching a player at university who scored 81Goals - 81Assists his last season in major junior (I think he still has the pp goals record for major junior) and he wasn’t even invited to one NHL camp because they didn’t think he skated well enough and he was on the small side. So you might have all the other skills and great game intelligence but the first thing you need is to be a great skater.

Both of these videos really focus on technique.

Skating technique demo. Kai. The slides are in Finnish but anyone can understand the demo’s of good technique by the Finnish coach. Kai mentions he has an English translation but I can’t find it on the site. Maybe you can submit it Kai.

I drove my 10 year old grandson to a one hour practice last night which was run by one of my former university players who is a PE teacher. He did a great job. I ended up on the ice helping a bit. A coincidence was that another coach came on a little late and it was a player from my 85 born team that I haven't seen since 98. He is playing pro in Texas now.----------------------------------------------------------------------------

B-D Practice Practice - Give and Go

Key Points:Shoot quick, pass quick, face the puck, give a target. Don't dust off the puck. Make hard fakes and accelerate after a move.

Description:1. Four Quick shots.2. Game with Jokers.3. Game of 3-2. D inside circle, F outside circle.4. Go around coach.a. Waggle around then seal off and accelerate.b. fake and across with puck in front of toes both forehand and backhand.

Key Points:Keep the skates outside the blue line and the puck in to avoid skating at the checker. Hit the net. One time the shot in the middle.

Description:1. A pass to B at the point.2. B skate inside the dot and shoot.3. A pass and B skate to boards and shoot.4. A pass and B one shoot a one timer in slot.5. A rim to the other side and B pick up the rim and skate inside the dot and shoot.

1) Bring tire overhead and down to ground- some bounce; both flat and on the side(with side go between the legs)

2) Rotate tire side to side and bring knee down to ground

3) Rotate tire above head

4) Hold Stable and in front and rotate trunk and tire from side to side as low as you can go

5) Flip and Catch Tire

6) Tire is on side; squat low and bring tire between legs and then explode and throw tire in the air and catch and bring back down

7) Flip in the air and catch and go into a squat as you catch

8) Bring around body as you go down onto 1 knee

9) Bring around body and the between legs

10) Squat down and drop tire and pick up tire as you come back up

11) Same as above but dropping down to 1 knee

12) Sit on one tire(flat) with legs spread out. Start on one side of body and drop bounce tire and then bounce tire in between legs and then bounce tire on the other side

13) Two players stand on either side of tire and when coach says “Go” both players will try to grab tire over to their side

14) Stand behind tire and jump up so both feet are on side of tire and bounce back down on other side and then jog backwards behind to starting position (Repeat doing the same thing backwards)

15) Two footed side jumps over tire

16) Tire flat on ground; jump so that you are straddling the tire and repeat 3X and then go back to starting position and jump with both feet to either side of tire

17) 1 footed hops to either side of the tire

18) Start with tire standing upright in front of you; roll tire between legs and spin around and grab and quickly roll back between legs

19) Tire lat in front of you; jump over and spin around while in the air; land facing tire and repeat

20) Start facing partner about 15 feet away with tire upright. Roll tire to partner and then spin around after you roll tire. When you receive the tire spin it around. Stay in low athletic squat position the entire time (Do same thing but after passing tire do short side lunge on either side)

21) Start with tire upright and right in front of you. Put both hands on tire and extend one leg out and the opposite knee down. Repeat the same thing on both side. *

22) Spread 3 tires out on the ground in a straight line and zig zag sprint though tires and back backwards

23) Start on the side of a flat tire and 2 foot hop over and quickly shuffle over to the other side

24) Hold tire with both hands and in a squat position make figure 8’s on the ground. (Should be about 8-9 feet in width

25) Start standing in one tire with a second tire right next to it. Step into the 2nd tire and then pick up the 1st tire and place it next to the tire you are standing in and continue (Can do this facing a partner and race)---------------------------------A few youtube videos on this kind of training.

First I demonstrate how you can use almost anything around you to create your own workout. I was visiting L.A. when I did this one.

This game is a little bit different because the jokers behind the net and at the point move around. The point jokers can check each other and move in for one timers but not join the rush. In this game the low jokers are not checking each other because I was getting them used to making plays from below the goal line and facing up ice as much as possible. It can progress to all jokers can check.-----------------------------------------------------------

DT4 - Jokers at Point and Below Goal Line

Key Points:Regroup and get open. Defender go from role 3 to 4 and attacker from role 1 to 2.Great game for transition between all 4 game playing roles.

Description:1. Play from 1-1 to 3-3 with one joker at the point and one below the goal line.2. When defender gets the puck he must regroup with either the joker at the point the low joker.3. Joker to joker passes are ok.4. Jokers at the point can check each other and progress to low jokers can check each other.5. Players rotate after a joker has made two passes.6. Keep score and play tournaments.

*Rules like you must pass to either joker, one joker, both jokers or jokers can check jokers can be implemented.

Key Points:Top two players I-up with the first player blocking the shot and the second player falls under. D block shots when the puck is on their side. Defenders never get tied up and skate in straight lines.

Description:Defending vs. the Diamond 1-3-11. The power play gets the puck to mid point.2. F1 get shin pads in front of the puck.3. F2 fall under and cover middle attacker.4. D1 release and block the shot.5. D2 cover player in front.

Defending vs. the UmbrellaIf it is a high umbrella and there isn't an attacker in the mid slot, then F2 can move to the side the puck is passed and block the shot.

Key Points:Jokers can only have the puck 1 second and then must pass or shoot. You can add thatthey must move sideways or back when they get the puck.

Description:Place the nets back to back at the red line.-Half the team play and half are jokers. Shifts 30"- 60”.-When the team gets the puck on defense they must pass to a joker before they canscore. Jokers can move around on the perimeter.

If you have only one goalie then it is a great conditioning - skating drill for the goalie toplay for both teams and skate around to the other goal.

Another option is to put the nets side by side facing opposite directions.

Key Points:Skate with Speed and hit the net. Follow the shot for a rebound.

Description:1. Player one from each side skate down the lane and shoot-rebound-screen.2. Player two delay then walk into slot and shoot then rebound.3. Player three skate down the lane and then walk across the blue line inside the dot and shoot.

If we want to get 10 000 reps of any skill then we need to use the ice efficiently and minimize standing in line waiting. These are some examples how to use cross skill practice to maximize activity and learning.---------------------------------------------------------------------------B3 Passing and Partner Practice

Key Points:This is a great formation for partners to work together on passing or puck handling. You can even progress to one net or cross ice games and include more players. Practice shooting quickly, Use many moves vs. a passive opponent and increase the movement progressing to cross ice games.

Description:1.Partner pass stationary and then skating. Incorporate going around each other as well. 2. Skate across ice and shoot at boards.3. Skate-give and go-deke-shoot quickly.4. Skate-give and go-deke moving D-Shoot.5. Give-go,defender close gap-deke-shoot.6. Partner keep-away.7. 1 on 1 game-use line on boards or nets.8. 1 on 1 game. Pass to waiting partner on whistle, goal or when defender regains puck.9. Cross ice game and use small nets or the line on the boards as the goal. Play tournaments.

Key Points Each team has two jokers at the point. Introduce the game allowing jokers to check jokers and then add that jokers can come in for one timer shots.

This transition game creates three situations. In the first part the players at the point must get open and take a shot or make a pass. The defender practices covering the point. In the second part add that the jokers at the point can come in for a one timer shot.

Description:

Part One:Each team has jokers at the point. 1. When defenders regain puck they must pass to the point to go on offense.2. Jokers can shoot or pass.3. Jokers can check the opponents Joker.

Part Two: 4. Jokers can jump in for one timer shots.5. Defending joker should cover the attacking joker when he jumps in.

Key Points: Defender must join the play after passing. The key is to skate hard when you get the puck. On offense attack quickly and get a shot then crash the net for a rebound.

Description:1. Players line up along the blue line with one team on each side.2. Start with a 1-1.3. A new player from each team wait over the mid line.4. Defender pass to teammate and join the play making it a 2-1.5. Continue this rotation.6. Various numerical situations can be created with this flow.

One partner drop a tennis ball while the other waits in the ready position 3-5 metres away. The goal is for the waiting partner to catch the ball before it hits the ice a second time. Keep score, change distances, etc.

Terry Johnson, played in the NHL with Quebec, St. Louis, Calgary and Toronto as a defensive defenseman. I coached at the U of Calgary with T.J. and we have done many camps and teams together. I asked him to go over defensive situations with my girl's U18 team.

This warm up helps a player to control the puck all around the body and stresses the nervous system to adapt to being overloaded with multiple balls and pucks with varying weights and feel. After practicing like this one puck seems easy to handle.The demonstator is a 97 born female player.-----------------------------------------------------------------A300 Big Moves _ Russian Warm-up

Key Points:Increase the size of the moves by reaching as far as possible with the puck. Separate the movement of the upper and lower body by skating away from the puck. Players must be able to handle the puck under control around and through their body.

Description:- Skate away from the puck. Skate right reach left and skate left and reach right.- Reach as far forward and back as you can using the top hand.- Yo-yo the puck give it and take it away.- Toe drag fake inside and pull the puck back while sliding back.- Bring the puck from behind to in front through the skates on forehand.- Bring the puck from behind to in front through the skates on backhand.- Skate fake inside and go outside.

Nervous System Overload- Carry two pucks at once; keep them in front and within a stick length.- Carry three pucks at once.- Carry four pucks at once.- Carry one wiffle ball and three pucks to change the feel and weight.- Carry a wiffle ball and sponge puck at once.- Carry wiffle ball, sponge puck and racquet ball at the same time.- Carry a small soccer ball with the feet.- Handle a small soccer ball with the feet and a puck with the stick.

Key Points:Simulate a defender by using small nets as obstacles. The player skates around and carries the puck using various moves and fakes. Any move can be practiced and the nets are a much larger obstacle than pylons. Focus on good technique.

Description:1. Put 4 nets as obstacles down the length of the ice.2. Player does various skating and puck handling exercises and finish with a shot. Start slowly focusing on technique and then add speed and different skills around each net.3. The video example shows.

A. Cross over skating and weave through the nets without a puck.B. Cross over skate and weave through the nets with a puck as quietly as possible.C. Heel to heel pivot past the nets alternating sides with a puck.D. Yo-yo the puck into the net and out practicing the toe drag.E. Fake shot and tight turn each way (without crossing the hands on forehand.)

Key Points:D join the attack on the whistle and attacking forwards back check. It is a fight for inside position. No penalties. Important that the forwards touch the red line so F1-D1 are close enough to join the play.

Description:1. Blue D1 pass to Red F1 who skates to the red line and turns back attacking 1-1 vs. D1. 2. On the whistle Red D2 passes to Blue F2 at the other end of the rink.3. Blue F2 skates to the red line and turns back attacking 1-1 vs Red D2. while Red D1 Joins Red F1 on the attack and White F1 backchecks making it a 2-2. 4. Repeat with Blue D3 passing to Red F3 at original end.

*Situations up to a 3-2 can be practiced. You need at least 8 D and 12 F to practice 3-2 with a 5-5 at each end. With larger number the lineup needs to move into the neutral zone to leave inside the blueline free.